Mindfulness as a Mediator Between Neurotic Perfectionism, Fear of Negative Evaluation, and Competitive State Anxiety in Anxious Adolescent Athletes

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between neurotic perfectionism, fear of negative evaluation, and competitive state anxiety in anxious adolescent athletes. Methods: This research employed a descriptive–correlational design using path analysis. The statistical population consisted of adolescent athletes aged ۱۵ to ۱۸ in Meybod, Iran, from which ۳۰۵ participants were voluntarily selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research instruments included the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-۲, the Neurotic Perfectionism Questionnaire, the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, and the Mindfulness Questionnaire.Results: The results indicated that neurotic perfectionism did not show a significant direct relationship with competitive state anxiety; however, it indirectly predicted higher competitive state anxiety through mindfulness. Fear of negative evaluation directly and indirectly through mindfulness predicted competitive state anxiety. Furthermore, mindfulness was found to be negatively and significantly associated with competitive state anxiety.Conclusion: These findings highlight the protective role of mindfulness against the adverse effects of neurotic perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation, suggesting its potential as a moderating mechanism for anxiety in adolescent athletes. From an applied perspective, mindfulness-based training programs could be implemented as effective strategies to reduce competitive state anxiety and improve athletic performance.

کلیدواژه ها:

mindfulness ، Neurotic Perfectionism ، Fear of Negative Evaluation ، Cognitive Anxiety ، Adolescent Athletes